Novalic in Tešanj: Support for economic recovery

(Patria) - Prime Minister of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Fadil Novalić and Federal Minister of Development, Entrepreneurship and Crafts Amir Zukić visited the municipality of Tešanj today, one of the largest industrial and economic centers in the Federation of BiH, as well as in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which, like other parts of our country, has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Today's visit by representatives of the Federal Government is one of a series planned to summarize the consequences of the pandemic, primarily on industrial centers, so that the second set of economic measures to help the economy, which is in preparation, yields the most effective results. Prime Minister Novalić emphasized that the purpose of the visit was to see how the pandemic affects the industrial environment and its community, as opposed to others where the service-tourism sector dominates.

- Tešanj has a large volume of industrial production, and a snapshot of the situation in this municipality is indicative for the entire Federation of BiH, along with areas that are tourism-service oriented - said Novalić.

During the meeting with the Mayor of Tešanj Municipality Suad Huskić and the President of the Municipal Council Senad Subašić, the representatives of the FBiH Government were presented with the current situation in the municipality, the problems they face, as well as the key projects they are implementing and planning.

Regarding the strategic projects of this municipality, the federal prime minister confirmed that banks approved funds yesterday for the construction of the highway section on Corridor Vc from Medakovo in Tešanj to above Žepče, 41 kilometers long, for which EUR 340 million was approved, with an additional EUR 60 million secured earlier.

- A total of 400 million euros will be invested in this part of the Federation of BiH in the next three years. Technical resolution of expropriation and design of that section follows, which is nearing completion, so that the tender for construction will be opened by the New Year - explained the prime minister.

In order to secure financial assistance for cantonal budgets in the remediation of consequences caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the FBiH Government distributed funds from the RFI arrangement with the IMF in the amount of KM 200 million at its last session.

The prime minister also reminded the hosts about ongoing transfers to cantons and municipalities in the amount of KM 30 million, of which one third on the principle of solidarity belongs to all cities and municipalities in equal amounts, while the remaining KM 20 million is allocated for co-financing projects, requests and initiatives, based on a public call published at the end of last week.

A meeting was also held with businessmen from this region, to whom the support of the FBiH Government was expressed during the remediation of the pandemic's consequences, and medium-term and long-term measures taken by the Federal Government to help the recovery of the economic sector were presented. According to indicators, the planned measures and subsidies, treated in the Law on Mitigating Negative Economic Consequences, are used in the economic sector of this region, but additional investments and greater support are needed for its preservation. From the federal budget, KM 3.6 million has been secured as assistance to the economy in Tešanj through this law.

Businessmen informed the representatives of the Federal Government and the municipal leadership about the current situation in this sector in Tešanj, and presented suggestions and initiatives that can contribute to improving the situation. The interlocutors agreed that the priority is to support the economy in order to protect workers and ensure their jobs.

The Federal Government will consider the proposals, suggestions, and initiatives from today's meetings that will contribute to the preservation and improvement of the economic situation in the Federation of BiH as part of the adoption of the second set of measures.